Package-opening method and apparatus



June 4, 1968 J. R. PINKHAM ET AL. 3,386,320

PACKAGE-OPENING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 10. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JESSE R. PINKHAM ROGER (LTRWETTE JOSEPH H. DAVIDSON HERBERT L. SPEAS,JR

United States Patent 3,386,320 PACKAGE-0PENlNG METHOD AND APPARATUS Jesse R. Pinkharn, Roger C. Trivette, Joseph H. Davidson,

and Herbert L. Speas, In, Winston-Salem, N.C., assignors to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston- Salem, N.C., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 533,326 8 Claims. (Cl. 83-23) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE A packaging-opening method and apparatus, involving slitting a package longitudinally along two opposed sides of the package, cutting the package transversely to the two slits so as to divide the package into two parts, and tumbling the package parts so as to cause the contents thereof to be dislodged therefrom.

This invention relates to the opening of packages. It has particular application to the opening of cigarette packages in order to reclaim the contents thereof.

In the packaging of products, it is often necessary to open completed packages so that the contents thereof may by salvaged. Such package-opening may result from a defective product that is packaged or from defective packaging or handling. In the cigarette manufacturing industry in particular, a number of packages must be opened following a production run in order to reclaim the contents of the packages. Reclaiming uncontaminated tobacco for subsequent re-use in the manufacture of cigarettes is desirable. It is also desirable to reclaim uncontaminated filters for subsequent use, such as a stufiing material for dolls or mattresses.

In the past, packages of cigarettes have been opened by hand to reclaim the tobacco and filters. The packages have sometimes first been slit to aid in the opening procedure. Such hand opening of packages is time consuming and involves expensive labor costs.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for opening packages, in particular opening packages of filter tip cigarettes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for opening packages, which provide for the separation of the packaged product from the package wrapper.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for opening cigarette packages while at the same time disassembling the tobacco sections from the filter sections of the cigarettes in the packages.

These and other objects of the present invention are carried out by a representative embodiment which provides for the longitudinal slitting of a package along opposed sides thereof. The package is then severed into two parts by a cut transverse to the slits. In filter cigarette packages, this cut is positioned just within the ends of the tobacco sections of the cigarettes adjacent to the filter ections-so as to separate the filter sections from the tobacco sections, While in nonfilter cigarette packages the cut is normally in the middle of the package. By spacing the cut from the filter sections, no filter material is included in the severed tobacco sections, which is important when the tobacco is subsequently separated from the wrapping paper of each individual cigarette so as to avoid contamination of the tobacco.

The invention contemplates the tumbling of the severed parts of the package, typically in separate tumbling drums in the case of filter tip cigarettes and in one tumbling drum for nonfilter cigarettes, which causes the severed parts of the packages to open along the slits and to separate the contents therein from the packaging wrapper. Each tumbling drum advantageously is formed of wire mesh which is chosen in size to permit the separated contents of the package part to pass through the mesh but to retain the packaging wrapper within the drum so as to segregate the product from the wrapper' The separated products may then be further processed. For example, in the case of filter cigarettes, the separated filters may be supplied to apparatus for shaking the tobacco bits from the ends of the filters, while the tobacco sections may be processed to separate the individual cigarette wrappers from the togacco therein.

The invention will be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a representative system in accordance with the invention for opening packages, shown diagrammatically for the purpose of illustration.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views, to enlarged scales, of portions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, taken respectively along the section lines 2-2, 33 and 44.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a package whose sides are slit in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 5 severed into two parts in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one of the package parts of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated diagrammatically a representative system for opening packages. The invention will be explained in the context of opening cigarette packages, although this is representative only.

Packages 12 to be opened are typically supplied to a conveyor 14 which is horizontally positioned and which conveys packages thereon in the direction of arrow 16. In the case of cigarettes, the packages should be oriented so that they are positioned lengthwise in the direction of movement. That is, the cigarettes in the packages should be aligned with the direction of movement. The packages 12 in the case of filter tip cigarettes should be positioned so that the tobacco sections of the cigarettes precede the lters in the direction of movement. This positioning of cigarette packages on the conveyor is necessary for the proper slitting and cutting of the packages, as will be described in more detail below.

The conveyor 14 may include spaced lugs 13 thereon which engage the packages 12 and move them along. The packages first pass by a pair of cutting blades 25a and 20b which slit the sides of the packages longitudinally. For example, the cutting blade 20a may complete slit 22a in the package 12 shown in FIG. 5, while the cutting blade 26b may complete the slit 22b shown in this package.

FIG. 2 shows the cutting blades 20a and 20b in more detail. The blades may be mounted for continuous rotation on continuously rotating shafts 24a and 24b that are driven by a motor (not shown). The blades slit opposed sides of the package 12 as shown in this figure. In particular, in the case of a package of cigarettes which normally contains twenty cigarettes positioned in three rows (top and bottom rows of seven cigarettes each and a middle row of only six cigarettes), the blades 29a and 2012 should be positioned opposite the middle row of cigarettes, the outside two cigarettes of which are spaced inwardly from the sides of the package. In this fashion, as the blades 20a and 29b slit the sides of the package they do not cut into the cigarettes within the package.

Referring again to FIG. 1, after the packages have been slit along the sides thereof by the blades 20a and 2%, they are conveyed by the conveyor 14 onto another conveyor 26 which moves generally at right angles to the conveyor 14. The conveyor 26 may include spaced lugs 23 thereon which engage the packages and move them along as shown. Positioned over the conveyor 26 is a single cutting blade 30, mounted for rotation on a continuously rotating shaft 32 which may be driven by a motor (not shown). The cutting blade 39 is positioned to one side of center line 34 of the conveyor 26. In this fashion, the cutting blade 30 severs the packages 12 that pass thereunder into two parts 12a and 12b which are of unequal size. FIG. 6 shows the severed package in more detail. In the case of severed packages of filter tip cigarettes, the part 12b contains the filter sections of the cigarettes, while the part 12a contains the tobacco sections. In this respect, and referring to FIG. 3, the cutting blade 30 should sever the package 12 so that the cut through the package is slightly displaced from the ends of filters 12c, i.e., the cut should be slightly within tobacco sections 12d. In this fashion, no filter material will be included in the severed tobacco sections of the cigarettes, which is important so as not to contaminate the tobacco for subsequent re-use in cigarettes. The proper orientation of the cigarette packages 12 on the conveyor belt 14 described above, namely with the tobacco sections preceding the filter sections in the direction of movement, ensures that the cutting of each package by the cutting blade 30 takes place adjacent to the ends of the filter sections as shown in FIG. 3. Of course, the blade 30 may be positioned on the opposite side of center line 34 of conveyor 26 from that shown in FIG. 1. In that case the packages 12 should be oriented on the conveyor 14 so that the filter sections precede the tobacco sections in the direction of movement.

Following the severing of each package 12 into the two parts 12a and 12b, the parts are conveyed by the conveyor 26 to a wedge 36 which engages the severed parts. The wedge directs the parts 12b onto a conveyor 38 and the parts 12a onto a conveyor 40. The conveyors 38 and 40 respectively convey the severed package parts 12!) and 12a to two funnels 42 and 44 which receive the parts from the conveyors and supply them to tumbling drums 46 and 48. As shown in FIG. 4, the conveyor 40, for example, may be inclined and may include spaced lugs Lila thereon which engage the severed package parts 12a and supply them to the funnel 44. The conveyor 38 may be similarly constructed.

In the case of nonfilter cigarettes, the wedge 36 may be replaced by a deflector (not shown) to divert both package halves to the drum 48 for separting cigarettes from the package wrapper. Adjustable guides on conveyor 26 enable the machine to handle filter or non-filter cigarette packages.

The tumbling drums 46 and 48 are mounted respectively on shafts 50 and 52 for rotation. For example, referring to FIG. 4, the shaft 52 is mounted for rotation in bearing structures 54 and 56. The shaft 52 is inclined so that corresponding points on upper end 48a of the drum are positioned at higher levels than corresponding points on lower drum end 4812. The bearing structure 54 may be carried by a yoke 58 which includes a threaded shaft 60 passing therethrough. The shaft 60 is pivotally attached to a frame member 62 through a coupling 64. Nuts 60a and 6% threaded onto the shaft 60 maintain the yoke 58 in position on the shaft, the position being chosen to provide the desired inclination of the shaft 52. The other bearing structure 56 may be pivotally attached to the frame 62, as at 66. The shaft 52 may be rotated by a suitable belt drive (not shown) coupled to pulley 68 so as to rotate the drum 48.

The tumbling drums 46 and 48 may be formed in an octagonal shape (in section) to provide for proper tumbling action. Each of the drums is advantageously formed of a wire mesh of which the mesh size is sufiicient to permit the filter sections 12c and the tobacco sections 12:! to pass through the drums during the tuni- 4t bling action while retaining the packaging wrappers within the drums. In particular, referring to FIG. 7, as the package part 12a is tumbled within the drum 48 the package tends to open as shown in the figure. The slits 22a and 22b in the sides of the package permit the opening of Wrapper 122 as shown. Hence during the tumbling action the tobacco sections 12a are separated from the Wrapper 12s and pass out of the drum &8 through the mesh. The tobacco sections 12d fall downwardly into a funnel 7 9 leading to a collection vessel '72 or the like. The package Wrappers 1212 within the drum 48 gradually pass out of the lower end 4382: of the drum into a funnel '74 which directs the Wrappers into a collection vessel 76.

In similar fashion, the package parts 12!) containing the filter sections 12c are tumbled within the drum :6. The package parts open in a fashion similar to that shown in FIG. 7 along the slits 22a and 22b so as to separate the filter sections 12c from wrapper 12;. The filter sections pass downwardly through the mesh of the drum into a funnel and collecting vessel similar to the funnel 70 and collecting vessel 72- shown in FIG. 4 for the drum 48. The wrappers 12 pass through the lower end of the drum 46 into a funnel and collecting vessel similar to the funnel '74 and collecting vessel for the drum 48 shown in FIG. 4.

The tobacco sections 12a within the collecting vessel 72 and the filter sections 12c within their appropriate collecting vessel will generally be further treated. In particular, the tobacco sections 12d may be individually slit along the cigarette paper enwrapping such tobacco to remove the tobacco from the cigarette paper, which tobacco may be re-used for the manufacture of cigarettes. The filter sections may be further processed by suitable tumbling or the like to remove the bits of tobacco adhering to the ends thereof, and the filters segregated from such tobacco hits. The filters may then be used, for example, as stufiing for mattresses or dolls.

As will be noted, the invention involves the slitting of a package along opposed sides and the severing of a package into two parts to facilitate the opening of the package to remove the contents therefrom. The invention finds particular application, as has been noted, in the opening of packages of filter tip cigarettes. A presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above which is subject to modification. Accordingly, the invention should be taken to be defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. The method of opening a package, comprising slitting the package longitudinally along two opposed sides thereof, cutting the package transversely to the two slits so as to divide the package into two parts, and tumbling the package parts so as to cause the contents thereof to be dislodged therefrom.

2. Apparatus for opening a package to remove the contents therefrom, comprising:

(a) means for slitting a package longitudinally along each of two opposed sides thereof,

(b) means for cutting the package transversely to the two slits so as to divide the package into two parts, and

(c) means for tumbling the severed package parts so as to remove the contents therefrom.

3. Apparatus as defined in, claim 2, wherein said tumbling means comprises a drum formed from a wire mesh for receiving at least one of the severed parts of the package, and means for rotating the drum about an axis thereof.

4. Apparatus for opening a package to remove the contents therefrom, comprising:

(a) means for slitting a package longitudinally along each of two opposed sides thereof, and

(b) means for cutting the package transversely to the two slits so as to divide the package into two parts,

wherein the package is a package of filter tip cigarettes,

and wherein said cutting means for dividing the package into two parts severs the package so as to separate the filter sections from the tobacco sections of the cigarettes Within the package.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, including first conveyor means for conveying away the part of the severed package containing filter sections therein, and second conveyor means for conveying away the part of the severed package containing tobacco sections therein.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, including first and second tumbling drums disposed to receive package parts respectively from the first and second conveyors.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said first and second tumbling drums are formed of wire mesh so as to permit filter and tobacco sections respectively to pass therethrough while retaining package wrappers therein so as to separate the filter and tobacco sections from the package wrappers.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said tumbling drums include plane faces of wire mesh and are open ended, said drums each being rotatable about a central axis passing therethrough from one open end to the other open end, said drums being positioned with their axes inclined to the horizontal, first collecting means disposed beneath the drums to collect filter and tobacco sections passing through the drums, and second collecting means disposed at the lower open ends of the drums to collect package wrappers from the drums.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

